News Nosh 1.5.20

"The assassination of Qassem Soleimani is a rare event that alters reality and renders everything that
happened before it irrelevant. What's required now is almost a complete reassessment of all previously held
assumptions and conventions."
--'Israel Hayom' military analyst, Yoav Limor, in his analysis of the
ramifications of the assassination of Iran's #2, Qassem Soleimani.*
You Must Be
Kidding: Ghislaine Maxwell, the British woman who has been accused of recruiting underage girls in the Jeffrey
Epstein sex trafficking scandal, has reportedly found refuge in Israel.**

Top
News:
Besides the sudden and massive floods in central Israel Saturday (Tel Aviv received 20% of its average yearly rainfall within a few hours),
which killed a young couple stuck in a flooded elevator in south Tel-Aviv, the
US assassination early Friday of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani at the
orders of US President Donald Trump was the big story of today’s Hebrew newspapers. And while ‘Israel Hayom’
presented the assassination as positive, calling it the “Elimination of the Century,” and its editor-in-chief,
Boaz Bismuth, declaring that “Trump won at poker,” most of the analysts were not as joyful or as certain that
this was a win for Israel. What they were certain of was that the region would change and no one knew how. See
Commentary/Analysis below for very interesting insight and views on what this means for Israel and the
region.

Yedioth Hebrew’s Itamar Eichner wrote that the assessment is that
Netanyahu was updated in advance of the attack because he had told political parties that the US was
planning a significant move against Iran, and on Thursday, a day before the assassintion, Netanyahu said,
without even being prompted: "We know our region…very very dramatic things are happening. We monitor this with
vigilance and maintain close contact with our great friend the United States."

Elections 2019 / Netanyahu Indictment
Quickees:

Poll: Center-left Bloc Leads, but Likud Holds Steady Despite Netanyahu Immunity Request -
Surveys conducted by Channel 12 and Channel 13 published Thursday night both show Kahol Lavan leading over
Likud by two seats, with neither bloc having a clear path to forming coalition. (Haaretz)

Stav Shaffir to Meretz: “I’m ready to give up second place on the list for a union“ - Chairman
of the Green Party forwarded to her colleague from the previous election campaign, Meretz Chairman Nitzan
Horowitz, a detailed proposal on how to continue their cooperation, within the framework of the Democratic Camp
list. (Maariv and Yedioth Hebrew)

Netanyahu launched a campaign to unite right-wing parties - PM warned on Twitter: "Both lists
may fall below the threshold, leading to the rise of left-wing rule." Prime Minister Netanyahu launched a
campaign to unite all right-wing parties last night, arguing that unless there is a union between Naftali
Bennett's and Ayelet Shaked's ‘New Right’ party, Habayit Hayehudi party, Ichud Haleumi party and Otzmah Yehudit
party the left-wing will take control of the government and the responsibility for that will belong to the
right-wing parties. (Yedioth Hebrew)

Netanyahu claims to seek 'temporary immunity,' but his request says otherwise - In addition to
asking for procedural immunity, which expires at the end of a Knesset's term, on some charges against him, the
prime minister is seeking lifetime immunity. (Haaretz+)

From 'witch hunt' to immunity bid: Netanyahu's evolving narrative of corruption charges -
Netanyahu’s immunity bid request and his climatic Wednesday night address cap a public campaign against
Israel’s law enforcement, which began with the start of his investigations in late 2016. This is how
Netanyahu’s narrative changed, evolved and grew more extreme since then. (Haaretz)

Quick Hits:

New US Middle East envoy visits Israel to discuss peace planafter months of
standstill - This will be Avi Berkowitz's first visit to Israel since stepping in for Jason
Greenblatt, who resigned as US President Donald Trump's emissary to the region in November.
Although Avi Berkowitz's visit is not expected to lead to a major breakthrough, it signals that the White House
hasn't completely abandoned the initiative. (Haaretz+ and Israel Hayom)

Abbas warns that Palestinian Authority on verge of 'explosion' over withheld tax revenues -
The PA pays some $11 million a month to terrorists in Israeli prisons and to their families, as part of a
policy that has become known in Israel as "pay for slay." (Israel Hayom)

Despite Hague Warnings, Israeli Panel to Discuss Annexing the Jordan Valley - An Israeli
committee will convene Sunday to discuss the annexation of the Jordan Valley despite a warning by the
International Criminal Court's prosecutor. Sources tell Haaretz that reviewing the issue is meant to show that
Israel has not abandoned the idea due to international pressure. (Haaretz+)

16-year-old (Arab) Israeli Shot Dead in Central Israel - Neighbors say teenager was sitting in
front of apartment building in Ramle when he was killed by an unknown assailant. A member of the family
criticized police, saying, "Where are they every day? If a 16-year-old boy was murdered somewhere else in the
country, the entire police is on its feet and catch [the suspect] in two hours, but if a boy is murdered in
Ramle they don't care, because it's good for them that the Arabs murder Arabs." (He is the first victim this
year of violence in Arab-Israeli sector. - OH) (Haaretz+ and Yedioth Hebrew)

(Thursday) Israeli army shoots Palestinian suspected of attempted stabbing attack in West Bank
- Army says that the man was shot in the legs and arrested Thursday after he attempted to carry out a stabbing
attack at Gush Etzion junction. (Haaretz+)

Incorporating female soldiers as tankists: The IDF decided to move on to the next stage of the
process - After a series of discussions led by the chief of staff, the army agreed that the pilot of
female combat soldiers in the Armor Corps showed real potential for integration of women in the corps. The
intention is to accelerate planning on the issue. (Maariv)

[Right-wing] Study exposes truth about 'incitement-free' PA matriculation exams - Israeli
branch of international research institute, Impact-SE, which evaluates school curricula for tolerance,
discovers that Palestinian students must be well-versed in message of violence and hatred to earn a high school
certificate. [NOTE: Impact-SE is an NGO founded by an Israeli settler and which, according to
analysts, uses questionable methods and that a similar method at Israeli schools would also find
incitement. - OH] (Israel Hayom)

The Jebrini family from Hebron will purchase the (Israeli) Miki Deli factory - The move will
allow the company to expand throughout the country, even outside the Arab sector, and increase its production
capacity. The Jebrini Brothers, one of the wealthiest families in the city of Hebron (in the West Bank) and
owners of one of the largest dairies in the Palestinian Authority, al-Jebrini, will buy the Miki
Salad factory and its equipment in Rishon Lezion for 2.3 million shekels and the right to lease the
building. When the deal is completed, Adi Cohen, former CEO of Tiv Taam Co., will join Jebrini as director
of operations in Israel and as a partner. Last month, the Miki Deli brand, the fish factory, the recipes,
formulas and knowledge for making Miki salads were bought by the Shamir Salads Company for 6 million
shekels. Miki Salads Co. has a 26 million shekel debt to banks. (Yedioth Hebrew)

Israel to invest $72M in wind energy projects - The project, which seeks to boost renewable
energy production while answering security needs, was given the go-ahead by the Energy, Finance, and Defense
ministries, as well as by the Israel Electricity Authority. (Israel Hayom)

**Jeffrey Epstein madam allegedly hiding in Israel - Ghislaine Maxwell reportedly on the run from
authorities ever since Epstein’s mysterious death in prison. (Israel Hayom)

Features:The head of the snake: Who was Qassem Soleimani? (Neta Bar, Israel Hayom) The son of a poor farmer, the leader of Iran’s elite Quds Force
was known as the "living shahid" among Iraqi Shiites for his battle achievements and willingness to put
himself in the line of fire.Who Is Qassem Soleimani, the Head of Iran's Quds Force Killed in Iraq (Haaretz) Once an ordinary construction worker, Qassem Soleimani quickly climbed
the Revolutionary Guards' ranks to become one of Iran's most prominent military figures.Israelis support British woman convicted of false (rape) complaint: "We feel shame"
A group of dozens of women, including some men, will board a plane to Cyprus Tuesday to show support for the
British young woman convicted of falsely complaining she was gang-raped by a group of 12 Israelis in a hotel room
in Aya Napa, Cyprus. After she retracted her complaint, the young Britishwoman claimed that her confession, in
which she declared she had falsely claimed she was raped, was taken from her by exerting illegal pressure on her.
But the Cyprus court rejected this claim and ruled that she lied. After this court ruling, several dozen Israelis
felt that they could not look away, and, in their view, the victim became a defendant and could now be severely
punished. Israeli women and men will be present at her sentencing, which will be given on Tuesday, to express their
support for her. It began with a Facebook post posted by Weiss last Wednesday in which she called on Israelis to
attend the sentencing hearing in Cyprus. "The goal is also to say that this thing, that women victims become the
accused, will no longer happen on our watch," says Weiss. "I have nothing to say on a legal level...but on the
moral level, I'm not ready to see more guys dancing with kippahs on their heads after they've done that disgusting
act. On any scale it's disgusting, and with this slime we don't dance anymore.""Our goal is to tell the British
young woman that we believe in her. I want to say this as both an Israeli and a Jew," says Ruhama Weiss, Professor
of Talmud at Hebrew Union College. "It was clear to me that I was flying to Cyprus and standing on Tuesday with a
sign and telling the girl that I was with her. It was unbearable to me what they did to her." (Ilana Stutland,
Maariv Magazine supplement, cover)The world is against us? Or is it just indifferent?
For years, Israel has invested tremendous efforts and resources to present its side in the conflict with the
Palestinians and to improve its image, but success has been limited. In recent years, a new trend has begun: to
escape politics and showcase the attractions the country has to offer, focusing on young audiences. The result: a
huge increase in tourism and numerous positive mentions on social media networks. “Vibe Israel" is one of the
organizations that does just that. "We represent an innovative approach to improving Israel's image in the world,"
says the founder of the organization, Joanna Landau. "If until now, state institutions have been primarily
concerned with explaining Israeli policy in the context of the conflict, we are seeking to promote and market
Israel in the way a product or brand is marketed. The organization's flagship activity is to bring bloggers,
YouTubers and Instagram personalities, all aged 40 and under - for an experiential visit to Israel. "Our tours
include large groups of influencers, who are interested in specific professional areas - fashion, music, culinary,
etc. Each group is tailored to the field where its members are active. To date, we have brought over 250
influencers to Israel and created over a billion positive mentions of Israel across social media networks. We have
developed a brand book of Israel, which we use to train Israelis and Diaspora Jews to tell the story of Israel in
the world, including guidelines on how to communicate it in the most effective ways for the Y generation and the Z
generation.” She says the country is missing out on opportunities. "In our view, the government budget for hasbara
(PR advocacy) is divided wrong,” she says, "95% of it is directed to crisis management and only 5% to marketing.
If, in the past, the Foreign Ministry led the issue, today its budgets are very limited. It is the Ministry of
Tourism that is currently marketing the state, mainly to increase the volume of tourists.” Indeed, in recent years
there has been a real revolution in the Ministry of Tourism on this issue, and it allocates a huge budget for
branding. "There is no longer a body besides us that allocates half a billion shekels of its budget for marketing
and branding operations," says Amir Halevi, director general of the Ministry of Tourism. "We operate in 15
countries and have rented 21 advertising agencies and 12 PR offices around the world. We have become the marketing
hub of the country."
What caused the conceptual change in the office? "Over the years, Israel has been seen as a region that
incorporates strong religious symbolism alongside ongoing conflict, which also connects to the religious side. When
Yariv Levin became Tourism Minister, we decided to go toward new avenues. From research we have found we should
develop sub-brands such as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, different from the brand General Israel. We marketed Tel Aviv as
a non-stop city and as an economic and cultural center, and Jerusalem as a culinary center in the center of the
with its focus the gentrifying Mahane Yehuda market. The branding and marketing activities we do in a diverse and
smart way using YouTube, Instagram, all media, billboards, articles on global tourist sites and even bringing in
bloggers and opinion leaders from abroad to meet the other and new faces of Israel.” (Yuval Gamliel, Yedioth Hebrew's '24 Hours' supplement)

Soleimani
Assassination Commentary/Analysis:Four remarks on the death of Qassem Soleimani: The living martyr (Shimrit Meir, Yedioth/Ynet) 1.) Qassem Soleimani was the rare kind of leader who leaves the
world a different place after they depart it; in recent years, he became such a legend that he was talked
about as someone who would leave the battlefield to hold one of Iran’s top political roles. Since the
negotiations began on the 2015 nuclear deal negotiations, Soleimani and others enjoyed tacit immunity, at
least from the Americans. Trump, who was never part of the national security circles, didn’t even hear his
name until recently (and once even mistook him for a Kurd). This turned out to be a blessing. The president
was not limited by the apocalyptic scenarios of Iran's revenge when he ordered to pull the trigger on the
operations to take out Soleimani.*Soleimani assassination ushers in a new regional reality ( Yoav Limor, Israel Hayom) There isn't an actor in the region, including Israel, whose
proverbial jaw didn't drop to the floor upon hearing of his untimely demise.Iran Is Still a Threat (Haaretz Editorial) Israel can be satisfied that the man who led the Iranian
campaign in the Middle East is gone. But it must remember that its challenge was not Soleimani, whom Israel
could have taken out a number of times in the past, and that the ring of threats against it has not loosened
with his death.Trump's strike, Iran's dilemma (Alex Fishman, Yedioth Hebrew) A great strategic miracle has happened here. Suddenly we are no
longer alone. For years, Israel has tried unsuccessfully to harness the US for a military confrontation with
Iran. On Friday we left our isolation. The United States, which has been cautious since the early 1980s
regarding direct attacks on Iranian targets, attacked and assumed responsibility for the assassination of
Qassem Sleimani - the man who symbolized the spread of the Iranian revolution throughout the world. It’s no
wonder the political-security leadership in Israel is celebrating. This upheaval in the US military policy in
the Middle East did not involve an Israeli military move or diplomatic policy, which was accompanied by heavy
prices. President Trump has chosen to put his hand into the fire. While Tehran convened to prepare for a
confrontation with the US, the Israeli defense minister convened senior officials of the defense establishment
for a consultation at IDF Headquarters, but unlike the storm in Tehran, here, they all dispersed for the
weekend. It is believed that the Iranians are aware of the fact that Israel has no involvement in the
assassination in Iraq and it is doubtful that the Iranians have any interest in opening another front against
Israel. However, there is a certain level of preparedness in the intelligence and air force in Israel. For
there is a likelihood that pro-Iranian militias in Syria, or perhaps Lebanon, will fire at Israel - even
without a directive from Tehran. An act of mourning, anger and frustration. This kind of shooting has already
happened in the past. Islamic Jihad from Gaza could also carry out symbolic firing as an act of solidarity
with Iran. However, from Hamas and other Palestinian organizations mourning the death of Soleimani there is a
clear message: We are not going to open any front because of his assassination. Trump surprised everyone.
After all, he acted as if he were in the process of withdrawing from the Middle East. Just a week ago, he
declared that he had no interest in a total war with Iran. After the US drone was shot down, he stopped, at
the last minute, a major US air strike. Photos of the pogrom at the US Embassy in Baghdad were, for him, one
bridge too far. And so when the CIA chief put his intelligence report on his desk stating that there was an
operational opportunity to eliminate Soleimani, he gave, in contrast to a similar incident in the past, a
green light. This time, Trump decided to make a change in the weak image the US projected not only towards
Iran, but towards the whole region. Trump surprised everyone, especially Soleimani. For years he has been
acting as a wanted man, but in recent months, against the backdrop of passive American behavior, he has
allowed himself to raise his public profile. Given his status in the Iranian regime, both he and his patrons
in Tehran did not think anyone would dare to harm him and thus declare war on Iran. His elimination has a
far-reaching regional significance far beyond the elimination of bin Laden and al-Baghdadi. However, it is
assumed that the Iranians do not want a comprehensive confrontation with the US, as the Americans have a
prominent military advantage. Therefore, the US administration is preparing for US facilities and embassies
around the world to be targeted. US military bases in the Persian Gulf, Iraq and Saudi Arabia are also
targets. The kidnapping of famous American and other citizens is being taken into account. And there is
another possibility: alongside or after the revenge operation, the Iranians will seek a way to compromise with
the West. For Tehran's supreme goal is the survival of the regime - and war will not serve it.Trump Exploited Soleimani's Mistake, and Netanyahu Gains the Most (Aluf Benn, Haaretz+) Netanyahu gained the most from Soleimani’s killing. The risky American
action that brought the “security situation” back into the headlines, bumping off Netanyahu’s corruption
affairs. The security-minded opposition from Kahol-Lavan quickly toed the line. If there is escalation, local
or regional, pressure will ratchet up on Kahol Lavan Chairman Benny Gantz and his co-leader Yair Lapid to take
the defense and Foreign Ministry portfolios under Netanyahu.Qassem Soleimani felt confident enough, and then made one mistake too many (Jacky Khougy, Maariv) The trickster from Tehran thought Trump had lost interest in the area
and he planned to continue his campaign of conquests. But he forgot that Americans had honor. ….Soleimani and
the engineer feared that the US assault against “Kataib Hezbollah" might be just the beginning. They sought a
way to discourage Americans and their allies, remembering that Baghdad is an American stronghold. If they hold
the embassy by its throat, Soleimani thought, they would only threaten it without breaking in - maybe the
Americans would think twice before attacking again. He and the engineer did not know how wrongly they thought
this time, and what dish was waiting for them around the corner.Trump's Impulsive Soleimani Strike Is a Gift for Iran (Daniel B. Shapiro, Haaretz+) Trump's abrupt decision to target Soleimani is a burden for Israel and
a death-blow to U.S. strategy in Iraq and Syria, if not the wider Middle East.Not just 'another' Iranian general (Prof. Eyal Zisser, Israel Hayom) For Iran's friends and foes alike, Qassem Soleimani was second
only to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Tehran will struggle to find a strategist of this caliber to take his
place.Need All the Strong Nerves and Sophistication He Sorely Lacks (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) Trump pounced on an opportunity to prove Baghdad is no Benghazi and
he’s no Obama/Clinton.
Suleimani counterterrorism: the dramatic of the targeted killings in terms of its consequences (Tal
Lev-Ram, Maariv) It is too early to assess how the Iranians will react to the picture
clarification, the coming period will be particularly tense. Israel will do well if you keep a low profile.
From the immediate implications for the situation in the region, in accordance with the decisions made in Iran
on how to respond, and to the implications of even more long-term options, Qassem Soleimani's assassination is
one of the most dramatic targeted killings ever. In this case, it was not against the snake's head of a
terrorist organization, who lives in the shadows, but rather an assassination of perhaps the most important
military figure in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Soleimani was a general close to power and in recent years
has been the most significant man in exercising Iranian military power and terrorism outside the republic
itself, as part of the Iranian ideological concept of exporting the idea of the Iranian Revolution, to our
region and other countries, not only as an idea but also ub building military capabilities in many countries.
His hegemony in the Iranian security leadership was undeniable. Operatively, an assassination of this kind
also has significance. At the same time, the Revolutionary Guards and the Iranian Qods Force are
well-organized bodies, so that Soleimani's assassination is not expected to paralyze the continuation of their
activities after the recovery phase and the shock of the assassination pases, but, still, it is a very
difficult blow for them. The possibility of assassinating Qassem Soleimani was an idea that, for years, was
considered also among the top political security leaders in our country. In 2008, Imad
Mughniyeh, Hezbollah's operations officer and the strong man in the terrorist organization after
Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an explosion in his car in Damascus. This assassination was
attributed to Israel, which did not take responsibility for the incident, but it did not drag the area into
war. Alongside...the dramatic aspect of the assassination that was then carried out, the understanding in
Israel is that the assassination of Qassem Soleimani is an action of another magnitude with implications for
both the possibility of direct confrontation with Iran and political complexity for other countries in the
world. Thus it was good for Israel that this action was carried out by the world's strongest power, which is
openly and explicitly behind the elimination and stands exclusively behind it. It would be good for Israel to
keep a low profile, assuming that there will be actors, which will try to get Israel involved in this incident
on various accusations. Alongside that, until the picture becomes clear, the coming period is expected to be
particularly tense. It's too early to tell how the Iranians will respond to the assassination. And Israeli
intelligence will be very busy in the coming days, while options for actions against Israel by Shiite militias
operating in Syria are taken into account. As a first step, the IDF did not take risks and shut down the
Hermon ski site this morning. Also, taking a wider look, it's too early to know how this incident will affect
the security situation in the region. For example, continuing Israeli operations in Syria will lead to a more
offensive military line on the part of Iran, where the situation is particularly tense at this stage. These
are precisely the issues that are currently relevant in assessing the state of the security system, out of
interest at the moment that Israel will not be involved.If This Is the Israeli ‘Opposition’ (Iris Leal, Haaretz+) American public opinion is divided, but in Israel, as always, those
who oppose the assassination or warn of regional deterioration are of course traitors who side with the enemy.
That is what happened to Joint List MK Aida Touma-Sliman, who dared tweet that “the Trump administration is
risking the lives of everyone in the Middle East – Iranians, Israelis and everyone in between. No to war!” It
seems to me that in comparison to the Democratic members of Congress, Touma-Sliman was moderate. Democratic
presidential candidate Joe Biden said that Trump had “tossed a stick of dynamite into a tinderbox,” while
Democratic presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren condemned the action and called it irresponsible. Luckily for
them, they are not Arabs. Kahol Lavan MK Yoaz Hendel trumpeted the reprimands he saves for such occasions;
that is, a golden opportunity for him to pour populistic poison over 280 characters and push send. “Joint List
MKs who blame the Americans for killing Soleimani have once again picked the wrong side.” The legitimate claim
voiced by most commentators and many members of Congress – that Iran would extract a heavy price for the
killing and a military confrontation between Iran and the United States is a serious possibility – is
identification with the enemy in Hendel’s eyes.Biden Is Against Soleimani's Assassination, While Gantz Applauds It (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) There are very few things in America today that inspire jealousy.
Here’s one of them: The immediate harsh criticism by leaders of the Democratic Party of the assassination of
Qassem Soleimani. In Israel, where there is no Jewish opposition to any shedding of Muslim blood, we’ve never
seen such conduct from the opposition. When Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren and
Bernie Sanders come out against an American assassination while Benny Gantz, Yair Lapid and Amir Peretz
automatically cheer it, with blind stupidity, it’s once again clear that in Israel, people speak with only one
voice. In America, there’s no such thing as “Quiet, we’re shooting.” In Israel, there is – not just when the
Israel Defense Forces are shooting, but even when American drones are.The Four Critical Questions After the Assassination of Iran's Soleimani (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) It’s impossible to exaggerate the repercussions of this event, and
even Trump’s most steadfast supporters should be regretting the absence of a seasoned national-security staff
around him.Not everyone has a replacement (Yossi Yehoshua, Yedioth) Qassem Soleimani was
Israel's bitter enemy for the last 20 years. He was the man who planned and even succeeded to a great extent in his
plans to close on us from all directions and borders: Hezbollah in Lebanon, Islamic Jihad and Hamas in Gaza, and in
recent years, also in Syria, where he led the establishment of Iran with the goal of creating a 'Hezbollah 2'
front. His assassination is a terrible mortal and operational blow to Iran and excellent news for Israel. There is
the perception, according to which, after every assassination rises a more dangerous heir, but in this case, not
everyone has an heir. Senior officials in Israel said that over the years they know few "professionals' on the
level of Soleimani. Take, for example, Imad Mughniyeh, the chief of staff of Hezbollah and close friend of
Soleimani and his right-hand, who was assassinated in 2008, in what was attributed to Israel and the US. Since
then, Nasrallah has not succeeded in finding him a suitable heir and so it is likely with Soleimani.The Trump doctrine for a war on terror (Prof. Abraham Ben-Zvi, Israel Hayom) The 45th US president has set a new precedent when it comes to
holding the architects of global terrorism responsible for their actions. Will the doctrine be applied to
"lesser" Iranian provocations, as well?Iran's 'Crushing Revenge' May Prove Formidable Challenge for Soleimani's Successor (Zvi Bar'el,
Haaretz+) Esmail Ghaani will have to demonstrate Tehran’s resolve in continuing
its policy in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon while taking into account the vulnerability of Iran's oil
terminals.Netanyahu’s No Statesman, and His Iraq-Iran Policy Proves It (Avi Shilon, Haaretz+) If Netanyahu really was a profound statesman for anticipating the
danger from Iran, he wouldn’t have so ardently pushed for the war that brought down Iraq, leading to Iran’s
creeping takeover of its western neighbor. For Israel, the upshot is that in 2020, as military chief Kochavi
said in his speech, Israel’s front against Iran has expanded to Iraq. Netanyahu is therefore a very
short-sighted statesman who failed badly on the very issue he identified as most critical.The greatest enemy of all (Ronen Bergman, Yedioth Hebrew) He followed Khomeini, leapt up the Revolutionary Guards chain of
command to the Quds Force, and teamed with Mughniyeh and Nasrallah. One man, alone, on a regular commercial
flight, from Damascus to Baghdad. No bodyguards, no entourage. Contrary to expectations, Qassem Soleimani
lived and acted simply. He became Commander of the Qods Force, the international arm of the Revolutionary
Guards, roamed the world without royal graces, ruling, trying to create as little noise and attention as
possible, unlike those who are accompanied by security convoys, bodyguards and private planes. But the low
profile did not save him Thursday night. His modest life and conduct were somewhat reminiscent of those of his
good friend, Imad Mughniyeh, who found his death shortly after Soleimani separated from him on February 12,
2008, and departed from Damascus back to Tehran. Mughniyeh also traveled alone or with one escort, usually a
relative, with no entourage, no plastic surgery and no use of camouflage. A kind of insignificant person. But
like Mughniyeh exponentially - Soleimani was the furthest from being an insignificant person: As one of the
most intimidating personalities from among a host of leaders of enemies of Israel, Soleimani, as the Iranian
commander of the secret arm for overseas operations, acted on a number of fronts, and as of 2012, turned this
activity public, and himself into a strategic threat to the security of the region. Soleimani was in charge of
the implementation of Iranian foreign policy and, in this sense, far more important than Foreign Minister
Zarif: He had to make sure that Iran became and remains the most influential factor in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen
and perhaps most importantly - Iraq. Soleimani, known as Hajj Qassem, was born on March 11, 1957 in the Kerman
area. In 1976 he began his activities against the monarchical regime of the Shah, and was among the many who
followed Khomeini. Shortly after the Islamic Revolution, he joined the Revolutionary Guards, the organization
founded by Khomeini to maintain power and to export the revolution. When the Iran-Iraq War broke out in 1980,
he was sent to the southern front at the head of a force from Karman. He quickly climbed the chain of command
and already in his twenties he took command of Division 41 of the Revolutionary Guards. From that point, he
quickly shot up and held a number of senior positions in the organization. His vast experience in the war and
his successes in the fight against smugglers underpinned the Supreme Leader's decision to appoint him in 1998
as Commander of the Qods Force, the elite unit of the Revolutionary Guards. Initially, Soleimani dedicated
most of his energy to support of Hezbollah in Lebanon: under the auspices of his people, Imad Mughniyeh led a
sophisticated guerrilla war against Israel, which led to the withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000. After that,
Hezbollah, with Iranian assistance, built the "Nature Reserves" system that held its own against the IDF
during the Second Lebanon War. Twice in six years, Hezbollah was seen as "defeating" the strongest army in the
Middle East. In these results, Quds and Soleimani have a large share of rights. Soleimani was at the center of
the Hezbollah missile fleet, which also has an Iranian goal: Soleimani deployed the missiles to deter Israel
from attacking Iran's nuclear facilities. His successful support for Hezbollah was just part of a much larger
plan - creating regional, intelligence and operational cooperation with Middle Eastern elements, not just
Shiite and religious, but those representing identification with Iranian interests. Soleimani formed an
alliance that, according to its people, was called the "Front of Resistance,” and according to Israeli
intelligence the “Radical Front.” And he worked on connecting Iran and Syria to three important jihadist
movements - Hezbollah, Hamas, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. At the operational level, this network included
three factors: Soleimani represented Iran and the Revolutionary Guards, Imad Moughniyeh represented Hezbollah,
and Syria was represented by a mysterious man - General Muhammad Soleiman. He was so secretive that his name
and picture were never published, until after his death. On Thursday night, the series was completed, with all
three found dead in assassinations. Following the death of Mughniyeh, Hezbollah and and the Quds Force
initiated a series of operations to avenge his death, and later (to avenge) the deaths of Iranian nuclear
scientists who Soleimani was certain Israel was responsible for. They planned to kidnap Israelis who had
previously served in the intelligence community, to blow up Israeli and Jewish Agency representations, to harm
Chabad affiliates and Israeli tourists. Almost all of those operations were thwarted in time. The terror
attack (in 2012 against Israeli tourists, killing seven,) in Burgas, Bulgaria, and the injury of the
commercial attache at Israeli embassy in New Delhi, were incidents that were not thwarted. Then came the Arab
Spring that changed everything and turned Soleimani from being a shadow man into being a major player in
geopolitical processes. "Soleimani's professional life can be divided into two periods,” said former Mossad
commander Tamir Pardo in an interview published in Yedioth Ahronoth as part of a broad profile of the man in
April 2018i. “Until the Arab Spring, he was perceived by most countries of the world as the powerful commander
of a terrorist body, which has branches in various parts of the world, trying to make a mess where possible to
promote some kind of interest, very active in Syria, Lebanon and in Iraq, but ultimately an operational body
whose main purpose is terrorism. From the shock that befell the Middle East and later with ISIS’ appearance,
the man changed direction. He becomes a real player, who knows how, with great talent, to take advantage of
the secret infrastructure he has established over so many years, to achieve non-covert objectives - to fight,
to win, to establish presence, to build significant military infrastructure, to influence map design and
everything - to generate precious international profits for Iran.” Soleimani became a very public man whose
travels across the Middle East and his photos with his soldiers on the ground, with other Iranian officials,
have been marketed on a near daily basis to the social media network. He became an Iranian superstar, a symbol
of the rule, the adopted son of the spiritual leader Khamenei, and someone whom many considered a candidate
for Iranian president. Soleimani always denied, saying he was a soldier, and all he cared about was being a
Quds Force commander. Starting in late 2012, the West negotiated with Iran a nuclear agreement and made Iran,
at least for a while, a legitimate interlocutor. Much more important: the war against ISIS turned Soleimani's
soldiers, indeed, the good guys. "Suddenly being a friend of the Iranians is not unacceptable," Pardo said.
Russia's military involvement in Syria was the last act that made Soleimani an international figure: although
for years he was on the US wanted list and couldn’t leave Iran except to a few countries such as Syria and
Lebanon. But that did not stop Putin from inviting him to a meeting in the Kremlin, which opened a series of
visits, some visible, some undercover, in Moscow, to coordinate the activities in Syria that saved Assad's
rule. Soleimani’s operations in Syria had two goals. The first: to save the Assad regime. Second: Establishing
an infrastructure for Hezbollah to act also from Syria against Israel. Hezbollah already had bases in Syria
for many years, and President Assad, a Nasrallah fan, allowed them to set up missile and other weapons depots
with him, but they did not operate from Syria directly against Israel. Soleimani understood that if the
Iranian gamble succeeded, and Assad’s regime will be rescued with the help of his forces and Hezbollah, Iran
could ask for anything it wanted in return - even if it did not suit the Syrian interest. Soleimani set up a
highly secretive unit of Hezbollah, subject to the guidance of a general on his behalf under the command of
Jihad Mughniyeh, Imad's son, and, among others, Samir Kuntar. According to the publications, both Mughniyeh
Jr. and Kuntar were eliminated by Israel, and hundreds of assaults against Soleimani's forces in Syria were
attributed to the Israeli Air Force. But his efforts to build a front against Israel continued, and at the end
of the day Iran has three borders with Israel - in Syria, Lebanon and Gaza. Israel has no border with Iran.
Soleimani was the driving force behind the escalation in the Iran-US triangle. Beginning last May, he
initiated a series of actions against American targets or allies in the Gulf and the Middle East to show that
Iran does not fear escalation, all to exert pressure on the US to stop economic sanctions against the regime.
But these kinds of actions, sometimes get out of control. So long as Trump thinks things don't hurt US honor
and therefore his own honor - the President has swallowed the frogs, even the damage to Saudi oil facilities.
Trump doesn't want a war with Iran that could hurt his chances of being re-elected. Here, Soleimani apparently
made the fateful mistake. Iraq is considered Iran's sworn enemy. Ever since Iraq destabilized following the US
invasion, Iraq became fertile ground for the policy that Soleimani initiated: Iranian intelligence documents
leaked to the New York Times reveal how Iranians entered the space left by the Americans, recruited many in
the leadership as agents, and in fact took over large parts of the ruling circles. Soleimani became the patron
of Shiite militias that fought against ISIS, but after they won, they massacred the Sunni population. In
divided Iraq, Soleimani's actions have remained unanswered and a wave of demonstrations has flooded the
country in recent months, were directed mainly against Al Qods Force operations and Iran. It is likely these
things worried Soleimani, who felt that Iranian control of Iraq was lossening, until Wednesday he decided to
fly to Baghdad himself to make sure his instructions were implemented. But the siege on the embassy, a symbol
of US rule, and the humiliation the US has suffered in Iraq over the past week have been one step too far,
Soleimani’s miscalculation. Trump, at least for now, has decided to change direction. And that mistake cost
Soleimani his life.By assassinating Soleimani, U.S. takes another step toward war with Iran (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) The violent Iranian response could last a long time on a number of
fronts and rope in Israel, which is already threatened by Iran's presence in Iraq.

Elections 2019/Netanyahu Indictment
Commentary/Analysis:Netanyahu Is an Unbridled Liar, but His Supporters Don't Mind (Ravit Hecht, Haaretz+) Benjamin Netanyahu’s lying performances could cause anyone with
minimal sensitivity to the value of truth to grow dizzy. Now there’s a new slogan, aimed at softening the
rigid language for his mouthpieces and courtiers: “Immunity is always temporary.” Even before we get to being
upset or outraged, there’s something shattering and frightening about the complete erasure of reality that
results from Netanyahu’s permanent lies. It is such a fundamental distortion of our familiar map – the clear
distinction between truth and lies – that it undercuts even people who could have sworn that just a moment
ago, Netanyahu said something completely different.Vote of confidence in the law (Yedidya Stern, Yedioth Hebrew) The Prime Minister decided to exercise his right to apply for
immunity. Apparently, the hearing on the request, to be held in the Knesset and then in the plenary, will
decide on a definite point - when will Netanyahu's trial be conducted, immediately or when he ceases to serve
as a Knesset member. In fact, however, the debate on immunity will deal with an immeasurably important matter:
the status of the rule of law in Israel. The legal claims made in the request made by the prime minister and
the rhetoric of the document leave no room for doubt that Netanyahu is claiming immunity because he believes
law enforcement agencies are making an illegally putsch against him. For example, "the indictment undermines
the very basic principles of democracy." Therefore, the real decision on the question of immunity is not for
or against the prime minister as a political leader or for and against some policy or another, but a vote of
no confidence or disbelief in law enforcement agencies.Benny Gantz's Year in Politics: Netanyahu's Complete Opposite Inches Closer to PM Seat (Chaim
Levinson, Haaretz+) Gantz almost quit after the Iranians hacked his phone – but quickly
learned to navigate Israeli politics.Because of the splintering of the parties: no one can assure us that there will not be a fourth
elections (Ephraim Ganor, Maariv) Not only are the transitory parties an obstacle to forming a government
in Israel as we see today, these parties are empowering sectoralism and tribalism in Israeli society. The
political crisis that the State of Israel has been experiencing in the past year is a signal from heaven that
is strongly signaling to us that the era of the small parties is over, there is no more room for fragments
that only contribute to the political chaos the country is facing. There is an immediate need to change and to
act in regards to elections and the political structure.Netanyahu has realized he has nothing to lose (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) With $14.5 million in taxpayer money, Netanyahu has launched a
campaign to re-brand immunity.The battered Israeli left faces off against Netanyahu and offers no alternative (Orit
Lavi-Nashiel, Maariv) All the warning lights are flashing, the seismographs are moving
nervously, indicating that civil society is about to collapse. On the one hand stands Netanyahu, who brought
us to this point, and where is the other side?Netanyahu’s Pitiful Desperation Conjures Devastating 1999 Election Defeat (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) The prime minister’s application for immunity is a Trump-style
headfirst dive into deep state paranoia.Netanyahu is exercising his legal right by seeking immunity (Amichai Etieli, Yedioth/Ynet) The prime minister remains a strong political force despite the
charges against him and it is the voters who will now decide whether he should continue to lead the
country.Netanyahu's only alternative is to make the Knesset a city of refuge (Ben Caspit, Maariv) The Prime Minister crossed the rubicon that still separated him from
being delusional. He looks around him and realizes he has nowhere to run. He is not fighting for his tenure,
he is fighting for his life and legacy… Netanyahu knows he has no majority vote for receiving immunity.
Avigdor Lieberman on Thursday knocked the last nail in the cupboard when he announced, with glee, that
YIsreasl Beiteinu party had no intention of supporting it. Lieberman remembers how Netanyahu praised his
decision to resign after he was indicted. Lieberman remembers how Netanyahu called for Ehud Olmert to resign
when investigations began against him. By the way, Olmert really resigned before the indictments and did not
dream of getting immunity. Netanyahu also voted in favor of a bill that would prevent a prime minister who has
been indicted from serving in office. The law was passed in a preliminary reading but was shelved after the
Knesset was dispersed. Now, Netanyahu has revealed the stolen light. He knows that immunity is his last line
of defense en route to Maasiyahu prison [prison for white collar crime - OH], so he has made immunity out as a
"cornerstone of democracy." To this day, he has scornfully rejected (and under the influence of those in his
home) all efforts to persuade him to strive for a respectable exit, when it was still possible to leave in a
dignified manner. Now he looks around in panic and realizes that there is no way and nowhere to escape. The
only alternative is to turn the Knesset into a refuge city and the Prime Minister’s residence into the altar
to which the whole family will tie itself.Will the Knesset Speaker Be Loyal to the Country or to the Man Holding It Hostage? (Friday Haaretz Editorial) Sitting in the driver’s seat, Benjamin Netanyahu ran
Israel off the road two days ago. Four hours before the deadline, he submitted an official request to the
Knesset for immunity from prosecution for bribery, fraud and breach of trust. With this one maneuver, the
prime minister was able to freeze the legal proceedings against him until the request is formally
discussed. To avert this disgrace, the request must be discussed and rejected. However, by law, the only
committee authorized to decide on the immunity application is the Knesset House Committee, which has not been
convened since April. Worse, its activity is not expected to resume until at least after the election in
March. And in his desperate attempt to avoid trial, Netanyahu is liable to drag Israel to a fourth or even
fifth election.Start-down nation: The high-tech community is alienating Netanyahu and his government (Ran
Adelist, Maariv) Instead of embracing liberal progress in the global world, the
right-wing government goes back to the days of witchcraft, racism, nationalism and quick finger on the trigger
instead of on the keyboard.

Other Top Commentary/Analysis:Israeli Troops Ambush and Shoot Palestinians Hoping to Make a Living (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) There are about 30 breaches in the separation barrier near Tul Karm,
where IDF soldiers often lie in wait for Palestinians sneaking into Israel to find work. They even shoot at
these men, although they pose no danger.Israel’s New Condition for Palestinians Hoping to Work Their Land: A Pop Quiz in Map Reading
(Amira Hass, Haaretz+) The army confiscated dozens of crossing permits of farmers whose plots
are beyond the separation barrier. While they labor to retrieve them, their land remains untended.IDF pushing for thousands of Gazans to work in Israel (Yoav Zitun, Yedioth/Ynet) Bringing workers from the Hamas-run coastal enclave into Israeli
territory will potentially force the terror group into a period of calm while giving in to opposition from the
right and the Shin Bet could trigger another dangerous engagementSanctions on Ramallah, Deal With Hamas: Israel's Risky Message to Palestinians (Amos Harel,
Haaretz+) Why does the Israeli army go to lengths to stress the significance of
assassinating an Islamic Jihad operative? Suicide bombing down in 2019, but 2020 could see a spike.Why in Israel they don’t talk about the package of sweets for Hamas (Jacky Khougy, Maariv) Last Sunday, the government security cabinet met to discuss the
Palestinian arena. Ministers discussed two main issues. They decided to give Gaza a small package of gifts, as
part of negotiations with Hamas, and they decided to punish the Palestinian Authority (PA) with a financial
fine. Only one issue appeared in the official announcement from Jerusalem after the discussion, and the other
was hidden. Guess which it was. Throughout 2018, the Palestinian Authority allocated 149 million shekels to
injured or to family members of martyrs. It was decided that this amount be deducted from the tax money that
Israel transfers each month to the PA. The ministerial decision was widely cited in the media, but nothing
about the Gaza debate was made public. Several hours passed, and news sites in the Gaza Strip published the
secret section. It turns out that Israel has agreed to allow agricultural fertilizer into Gaza, which so far
has been prohibited because it could be used to make explosives. It allowed buses to be imported after two
years that it was prohibited because they were used to transport demonstrators to the fence. Israel also
allowed the import of tires, which it banned from introducing because they were set on fire at demonstrations.
In addition, it allowed the Gazans to purchase fishing boats, contrary to its policy. In the export sector,
Israel agreed to allow the sale of 600 tons of strawberry and other crops to Israel. One can guess why Israel
was trying to hide these details. Many regard any ease of sanctions for Hamas as a prize for terrorism, and
the fact that the Cabinet approved such a line of relief could serve as a tool for Netanyahu's opponents
to slam him, and even moreso during the election period. But not only the opponents of the prime minister made
faces. Hamas also felt anger. Three days before that, the top of the Hamas movement responded to the pressure
of the Egyptians, and decided to stop the “Marches of Return,” the name for the demonstrations along the
border fence. Israel has been demanding for more than a year for Hamas to put an end to these demonstrations,
and now, the time has come and the demand was met. Hamas was hoping for a great reward. Although they were
happy about agricultural fertilizer and buses, it wasn’t just for that they stopped the demonstrations. Hamas'
main demand from Israel was to ease things that bring in money. Mostly export licenses, such as strawberries,
for example, but in a much higher variety and numbers. Or thousands of exit licenses for workers to work in
Israel - not hundreds. Each such worker brings an average of NIS 300 to NIS 500 per working day. The sums flow
to the Gaza economy and their ability to resurrect it. In comparison, salaries of workers (working in Israel -
OH) is one of the pillars of the Palestinian economy in the West Bank over these last years.Iran Is Declaring War on Israel – From Gaza (Muhammad Shehada, Haaretz+) Iran is doubling down on its explosive investment in Gaza: Islamic
Jihad. An impoverished Hamas faces a militant, rejectionist and increasingly untamable rival, flush with cash
and determined to trigger war with Israel.Israel Is Hiding Documents That Could Help Its War Crimes Case at the ICC (Yaacov Lozowick,
Haaretz+) The state zealously conceals archival documents that could be useful
in the international arena, but the bureaucrats involved are misguided.When Bibi Gets It Right: Poverty in Israel Is Going Down (David Rosenberg, Haaretz+) But considering that Israel's economy has been growing since 2003, it
should have gone down a lot more. What's keeping poverty high is politics.Contrary to popular belief, most US Jews support Trump (Yossie Hollander, Israel Hayom) In the 2016 presidential elections, most polls declared that 70%
of American Jews voted for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, but that was not necessarily the case.The Jewish Left's Tragic Problem With Solidarity for Jews (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) Jews on the right don't get racism. Jews on the left don't get
solidarity.Despite politicians' promises, Israelis still require visas to enter the U.S. (Itamar Eichner,
Yedioth/Ynet) Israeli tourists are spending money when traveling in America and
if their number would grow, their contribution to the local economy could be in the amount of 3.6
billion.Inside Hezbollah's American Sleeper Cells: Waiting for Iran's Signal to Strike U.S. and Israeli
Targets (Matthew Levitt, Haaretz+) In case of war with the U.S., Tehran can draw on 200,000 Mideast proxy
militants to attack Israel. But less well-known are Hezbollah’s overseas Black Ops units - and both Israeli
and American targets are in their sights .A Crystal Ball on 2020 (David M. Weinberg, Haaretz+) A political-diplomatic forecast for the year ahead: A fourth election
in Israel, Trump victorious, Jerusalem expands into E-1, and regrettably, more antisemitism.

Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.